30 Internet Users Spill The Tea About Why They’re No Longer Friends With Their BFFs

True friendship is reciprocal. Your real friends respect you and your boundaries just like you respect theirs. They help you out instead of always asking for favors while avoiding doing anything for you in return. They have your back when you need it, while also being honest with you if you make mistakes instead of staying quiet. They’re vulnerable and authentic around you. And they proactively invest in your friendship instead of putting it on the back burner.

To put it simply, real friendship is about being partners and equals. Of course, the nature of your friendship will change over time. There are bound to be plenty of ups and downs in your relationship over the years. Anyone who’s had long-term friends knows this. These challenges can either strengthen your bond or prove to you that your friendship wasn’t all that you thought it was.

Whatever the case might be, it’s always a good thing to periodically reevaluate your relationships and reprioritize who you’d ideally like to spend more time with. Who lifts you up and energizes you after you meet up? On the flip side, who drains you and makes you feel more anxious and upset after you hang out? Spend more time with the former and less time with the latter.

According to ReachOut Australia, the “most important thing” when it comes to friendship is that your friends accept you for who you are. “A good friend walks the talk and shows that they care by their actions— big and small.”

Some signs indicating that you have a good friend by your side are that they don’t judge you or put you down, are kind, loyal, and respectful, and listen to you and comfort you when you need it. They’re also trustworthy and “willing to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard for you to hear.”

There is a huge difference between listening to someone and actively listening to them. In the latter case, you’re actually empathizing with them, looking at the situation from their perspective, and trying to put yourself in their shoes. A good way to tell if you’re genuinely connecting with your friend is to consider whether you’re simply waiting for your turn to speak during the conversation. Don’t make the discussion all about you.

Meanwhile, as awkward as it might be, if you’re worried about your friend, directly ask them what’s bothering them and what they need. Meanwhile, open up about your own feelings as well. It takes a bit of courage to be vulnerable, but it’s so important.

Have you ever had a friendship that you deeply cared about fall apart, dear Pandas? What happened? Were you eventually able to mend the friendship, or did you go down your separate paths? What do you think would need to happen for you to get back on the same page?

What, for you personally, are the most important signs of a great friend? What qualities do you value the most? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your stories below, in the comments.